Buckle



P. W. WHITE March l2, 1935.

BUCKLE Filed March 25, 1933 IPA Patented Mar. 12, 1935 isarist BUCKLE i lPaul W. vtilhite, Chicago, Ill., assignor toA Parva Products Company, Chicago, 111 a corporation Y --f of Delaware applicati@ Marchas, 1933,' serial Nmcsaesi 4 clams. i (crei-7a) This invention 'relatesfto 1a buckle and.- has specialreference-to abuckle formed of wirefor use in the supporting of. garments, andthe like. More particularly; Lthis invention relates'toa' buckle* comprising a frame h'aving`..aJ button engaging portion and a strap engaging portion, :the frame beingi formed' .of a"si`ngle continuous Wire shownin the drawing, that isjin connection .with

a button attached to the-iront .bib of an overally or other garment for detachable connection with the shoulder straps thereof.` In a .buckle of'the above type, it iscontemplatedthat 'aneicien't fr and practical articleniay be' produced at a mini# mum cost. The construction of the bucklespecically contemplates the formation Vof `the intermediate portion Lof "the single' continu-'2* ous wire into outer substantially rec# tangular frame, the end portions of 'the 'Wire being formed into -cross-bars spaced vfrom-'the outerV frame and connected to' one sideth'ereof to denne transverse slots for receiving a strap orY the" like. Thecross-bars intermediate `the '1 frame oi the buckle'lik'ewise occupy a spaced relation in defining a transverse slottherebetween, which space is-gapped at one side of the frame either bya "separately formed collaror similar connection orby vproviding integrally formed extensions which may preferably :be welded or otherwise secured together. I A

yThe klower side of the frame is provided with a looped portion preferablyyopening into one of the transverse slots to be engaged by a button and the adjacent `cross-.bar is provided preferablyY 'with spaced offset portions `for engaging the line of fold of a-strap threadedthrough the trans-V verse openings to substantially vclose saidloop andl to eifecta distortion oi the strapagainst the directionfof pull `vvherrthebuckle is in use so as toprevent relative slippage therebetween. Gne of the'objects of this invention is to provide abuckle of the character above noted which is simple infconstructin,comparatively inexpen-` sive to'inanufacture, andieliicient in operation."`

. Another object otithis invention is to providea buckle ofthe type above-pointed outvwhich may befformed of a single length of wire in its entirety or substantially so.A

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter 5 be more particularly pointed out and -for a more complete understanding of Vthe characteristic featuresof thisfinvention, reference may now be had tothe following description when taken to'v gether with the accompanying drawing, inwhich 10 latter:4 f lFigure 1 is a facerview of a buckle constructed in accordance with theteachings of this invention; y

` Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view taken on the' linefZ-Z of Figure 1,y showing a strap inA full lines threaded on thebuckle; H g Fig. 3 is a lView* simil'arito Fig. 2 taken on the line 3''3 of Figure Y1, showing thevstrapr as omit--l ted therefromj l Fig. 4 is a face View of a buckle incorporating a modified form'ofV construction in accordance with the fteachings of vthis invention, showing a button in'dotted lines; f* Y v Fig.V 5 is a'view similarto Figurefl, showing a modied form of construction for bridging the space between the intermediate bars; vand I Fig. 6 is"`a""fragmentary elevational view partially in` section, showinga still further modification of the 'manner of bridging the` spaceV 30 between the intermediate bars.

` VReferringV now" to the drawing and more particularly toFigsi 1 toj3 thereof, the buckle is shwnias comprising amfraxn'e designated generally by' the reference character 10. The frame 3D is preferably substantially rectangular in shape andc'rnpises a'single continuouswire, the portion` intermediate the endsiofnwhich comprise the'outer 'frame o f th'ebuokle and the end portionsA 'ofwhichf comprise cross-bars intersecting the VframeA member and dividing the same into transverseslots. n l

The'lbuckle may beconveniently formed on the Ausual wire yforming machine of standard make commonly termed multiple slide, or, in the 4D presentv instance, vf ourslide machines. Such machines consecutively andcontinuously bend the wire Ain its various directions. As shown in the drawing, an intermediate portion of the wire formsa siderllofuthe frame and one adjacent portion 'thereofwis bent substantially at right angles thereto ltov form yan upper side 12, thegcontinuation of this side being bent back in an opposite direction and at a spaced distance therefrom to form an intermediate bar 13. The adjafrom the upper and lower sides of the frame members 12 and 14, respectively, and are likewise spaced relatively to each other, thus forminglan upper slot 18, a lower slot 19, and an intermediate slot 20 for receivingfthe strapas it is j threaded in the manner hereinafter specified.

In the formation of the buckle, as above recited,

the slot 20 is not enclosed at oneend and, there` fore, in order to enclose the same and to support the adjacent portions of the buckle at that end, a connection 2l isprovided comprising preferably a shell of substantially vannular cross section, the upper end 22 of` which snugly engages the-circumference of the wire at the point of bend between the portions 12 and 13, and the lower end 23 of the shell engages the circumference of the wire' at the bend between the portions 16 and 14, The intermediate portion 21 of the shell acts as a spacer between the adjacent wires andalso to strengthen the construction ofthe shell. The upper, lower and intermediate portions of the shell are provided with openings .or cutaway portions through which the'portions of the wire may ex tend. y

The cross-baror intermediate bar 16 positioned adjacent the side 14 of the buckle framel is pro.-

vided with a pair of spacedoffset portions 25 and Y 26, whichrlatter form a depressed portion 27 therebetween, the latter being oppositethe opening into the loop 15. Thus, the lower slot between the lower frame portion 14 and the intermediate bar 16 is relatively wide opposite the opening in tovthe loop and,as will hereinafter be more particularly pointed out, when associated with the strap, will act to prevent accidental disengagement ofthe button from the loop. v v .A A strap 28 is shownas being threadedly engaged with the buckle in the following manner: y

The strap passes downwardly to the rear of the upper side 12 of the frame and then-forwardlyv through the slot 18` over the barsl 13 and l-and` rearwardly through the transverse slot- 19. The strap is then passed upwardly and forwardly through the transverse slot .20vand thenrearwardly and upwardlyV through the transverse slot 18, the free end 29 of the strap being disposed in the rear of the body portion of the strap and thus behind the buckle. y f y Y Itwill be noted that when thestrap isthus threadedly engaged with the buckle thel line of fold 30 of the strap is positioned adjacent the opening into the loop 15 and thus substantially closes this opening since the head. ofy the button isfsubstantially greater than thev diameter of the loop. It will be noted further that the .offset portions25 and 26 engage the strap at the line of fold thereof. so that a relativev pull between the strap and buckle is exerted on the strap and buckleatr the points of engagement of the offset portions of the bar 16 with the strap. This arrangement of the` strap relatively to the buckle effects a transverse distortion of. the strap against the direction of pull when the buckle'is in-use so as toV prevent slippage of .the strap relatively to the buckle.

tion. y .K

It is thus tobe noted-that the line offfold .off

In use a strap will be threadedly engaged with the buckle in the manner previously described and a button attached to the bib of an overall or the' like will be engaged with the loop 15. As long as there is a relative pull between the strap and button, the button will remain in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, or, inj other words,

in the ylower end ofthe opening intothe loop-15.V

If, however, this relative pull shouldbe relieved p Y it. can not become disengaged' from `the buckle owing to the strap extending 'across the raised -offset portions 25 and 26, which latter substanandthe button should slip upwardly in the loop,

tially. close the opening into the loop when'the strap isextended thereover. Thus the buttonv buttonloop 15. Y p

When, however, it is desired to disengage the button from the loop,`the button may be tilted to engageA the edge thereof with the adjacent foldedv portion of the strap forcingfsuch folded portion into thefrecess 27 between4 the oifsetp'or.` tions 25 and 26,'thus allowing'the passage of the button through the vslot by reasonzof' the resiliency of the material of the strap to adisengagedposi` the strap being'positioned asit is adjacentthe outlet opening of the button-receiving loop con-g stitutes'a means for yieldably maintaining the' 15 may not become accidentally disengaged from the n Y f aci button in engagement withthe lloop and it becomes necessary to displace the adjacent yfolded portion of the strap to effect disengagement-of the buttonfrom the loop with the result `that the' Vfolded portion Vof'the strap constitutes in veffect a resilient or compressible cushion for maintain# ing the button in engaged position. The bar16 having the recessed portion 27 therein conforms substantially `to the curvature of the edge of the Y button adapted to be engaged in the buckle loop and as the folded portion of the strap is forcedv into the recessed portion, there is sufficient clearformed in thev lower bar 14'adiacent the loop opening and extending into the lower slot 19 for cooperation with the offset portions25 'and 26. Also the'outer ends 17A of the intermediate bars 13 and 16 are shown as being flattened to engage xedly flattened portions of the intermediate portion 11 of the frame, there being a collar 21A similar to the collar on the opposite side of the frame to make the buckle symmetrical andto strengthen the constructions. 'I'his construction may be used alternatively on the various modifications herein shown.

The offset portions 3l and 32 are preferably spaced outside ofthe offset portions of the bar 16 and `they preferably terminate in substantially the same lateral plane therewith. Thus, for ex ample, in the preferred constructlonlshownrin Fig. 4, a straight line drawn transversely of the* buckle will touch the peaks oroutermost points of each of the offset portions, and, asY shown in` j,

the drawing inY dottedlines, a portion of any thickness at all in order to be threaded through the slot 19 will actually be distorted in any condition of use.

The threading of the strap through the buckle and the general construction of the buckle is the same as that described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive,and a further description thereof would make this specification unnecessarily prolix. The same description may, therefore, be employed and the same Vnumerals have been transferred to' make the same easily readable.

The construction shown more particularly in Fig. 5, to which attention is now directed, contemplates the employment of an all-wire frame wherein the intermediate bars are provided with offset portions, which latter are fxedly joined together to form one side of the frame and to enclose the intermediate slot. The wire is bent in substantially the same manner as in Figure 1, there being an intermediate portion of the wire having the adjacent portions thereof bent at right angles thereto with the end portions extending from the adjacent portions into the frame to form intermediate bars. set portions 33 and 34 are provided in the wire at the points of extension of the intermediate bars from the upper and lower bars and, as shown in the drawing, are preferably welded or soldered together. It is to be understood, however, thatv instead of having two offset portions meeting substantially centrally, as shown in the drawing, only one offset portion need be provided at the point of extension of one of said intermediate bars with either the upper or lower bar to extend across and bridge the entire gap of the intermediate slot 20.

Instead of soldering or welding the offset portions 33 and 34 together, as shown in Fig. 5, it may be desirable to provide a separate connection, such as the collar 35 shown more particularly in Fig. 6. the form of a metal band whichsnugly engages the periphery of each of the offset portions or is held thereto by any suitable fastening means.

A device built in accordance with the above instructions may be very simple in construction, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and efficient in operation. A wire of but a single continuous piece with but a simple connection employed therewith makes for simplicity in construction and inexpensiveness 4to manufacture. The buckle is Very efficient in operation since a button is held against displacement by the resilient cushioning means formed by reason of the strap being threaded in a manner to present a line of fold across the offsetportions. The strap is held securely against slippage by reason of these blunt offset portions and further, as shown in one modification, by cooperating offset portions.

While several embodiments of this invention are herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various modications thereof may be apparent to those .skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and, therefore, the same are only to be limited by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims. Y

I claim:

1. A buckle of the character described comprising a frame constructed from a continuous wire having an intermediate portion forming one side However, 01T- Y This connecting member is preferably in of said frame with adjacent portions thereof extending therefrom to form upper and lower bars of said frame and the end portions extending from said upper and lower bars into said frame to formV intermediate bars dividing said frame into upper, lower and intermediate slots, and a .substantially cylindrical shell having end and intermediate spaced openings for passage of said Wire at the points of extension of said intermediate bars from said upper and lower bars to form the other side of said frame.

2. A buckle of the character described for association with a exible strap comprising a single continuous wire formed to dene a frame having upper, lower and side bars, and intermediate bars extending between said upper and lower bars for providing upper, lower and intermediate slots,

`said lower bar having an outwardly extending loop opening into said lower slot for retaining a button, the lower of said intermediate bars havingspaced offset portions extending in the direction of said lower `slot,'and said lower bar having offset portions adjacent said loop-opening extending into said lower slot for cooperation with said offset portions in said intermediate bars in engaging the strap to substantially close said loop to prevent accidental displacement of said button therefrom unless manually forced and to provide a transverse distortion of said strap against the direction of pull.

3. A buckle of the character described for association with a flexible strap comprising a single continuous wire formed to define a frame having upper, lower and side bars, and intermediate bars extending between said upper and lower bars for providing upper, lower and intermediate slots, said lower bar having an outwardly extending loop opening into said lower slot for retaining a button, the lower of said intermediate bars having spaced offset portions extending in the direction of said lower slot, and said lower bar having offset portions adjacent said loop-opening extending into said lower slot outside of and for cooperation with said offset portions in said intermediate bars in engaging the strap to substantially close said loop to'prevent accidental displacement of said button therefrom unless manually forced and to provide a transverse distortion of said strap against the direction of pull.

4. A buckle of the character described for association with a flexible strap comprising a single continuous wire formed to define a frame having upper, lower and side bars, and intermediate bars extending between said upper and lower bars for providing upper, lower and intermediate slots, said lower bar having an outwardly extending loop opening into said lower slot for retaining a button, the lower of said intermediate bars having spaced offset portions extending in the direction of said lower slot, and said lower bar having oifset portions adjacent said loop-opening extending into said lower slot terminating in substantially the same' lateral plane outside of and for cooperation with said offset portions in said intermediate bars in engaging the strap to substantially close said loop to prevent accidental displacement of said button therefrom unless manually forced and to provide a transverse distortion of said strap against the direction of pull.

PAUL w. wnrrn.l 

